SouthDown is down-right filthy!

[SPC]

According to the sand fauna experts, the critters that are on the rock are not the ideal critters for the sand bed.
Steve

 

[Josh's Reef]

So where do we get these "sand critters"?
Most of the time "live sand" is just bio-activated and not critter activated.

 

[carolina98]

Phat, trade about a cup of sand with someone who has a mature, <i>healthy</i> tank. Within minutes your sandbed will be seeded. Of course if you can get sand from two different people, your chances of increasing the diversity are increased by 100%.

For anyone interested in the make-up of Southdown sand, here's a link to an analysis by Rob Toonen: Southdown Particle Breakdown

HTH,
Connie

 

[SeaMac]

For sandbed seeding kits check out the following two sites:

http://www.inlandaquatics.com
http://www.ipsf.com

I have ordered twice from Inland Aquatics and find their kits to be pretty good...the ministars and bristleworms have definitely reproduced in my tank! Hope that helps!

Chris

[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: SeaMac ]</p>

 

[Josh's Reef]

Well 3 fish died!!!! Adding SD sand unwashed and creating a sand storm is not good.
RIP=Annularis,six bar angels, and broomtail wrasse
Tangs are ok

 

[lawndoctor]

I agree with Strongbow. I used SD in my old 37 and it was fine. However, I just put 100 pounds of SD in my new 75 and it made an awful mess. It took a week for the cloudiness to dissipate and when it did everything was covered with a thick grey cement-like layer. I had to scrape every surface inside the tank, clean the pump, replace all the hosing, dismantle the sump and scrape its entire interior surface, do the same to the skimmer, and throw away all the live rock I had put in the sump that got ruined. I then did an entire-tank water change and followed up with carbon, poly filter, and multiple partial water changes for several weeks. Even still, when I finally transferred the livestock from my 37 into the new 75, all three of my shrimp, both of my sea stars, and half my snails died. The fish are O.K. but the brittle stars are still barely moving after several weeks. This week I added an apparently healthy tang and he died for unknown reasons after 12 hours. Considering I have spent several thousand dollars to set up my tank, I would NEVER EVER buy SD again just to save $50 or $100. I believe there was something nasty in the SD I bought and it poisoned my tank. Maybe I just got a rare randomnly bad batch, but I would not take that risk again and I would not recommend that risk to anyone. I would heed SD's warning and not use their sand for an aquarium.

 

[strongbow]

The problem with the SD sand is that it is very inconsistent in quality. If you complain to them they will tell you outright that its not intended for that purpose.

Lawndoctor has experienced a bad batch as have I in the past. That's why I don't/won't use it.

It just seems so silly to use a product which is not made for that purpose as the foundation for your tank.

Check out these two sites, as they both have reasonably priced aragonite which is aquarium grade and SAFE...

www.esvco.com $20.95 for 50 lbs/.41 per lb

www.purearagonite.com $11.95 per 40 lbs/.29 lb with a free bag for orders over 4 bags

...both are excellent, in my opinion purearagonite has the finer grain sizes.

The same logic applies to other items I have seen people recommend.

A reef aquarium is a fairly expensive hobby which takes a long time to aquire the skill, stock and growth of tank inhabitants. I do not think it's worth the risk to save a few bucks and have it get screwed up by using products which are not absolutly safe for you aquarium.

 

[esmithiii]

What is the particle size compaired w/ SD sand?

E

 

[desktopsilver]

i just put in carrib sea agramax sugar sized ooolite,,,grat looking stuff,clouded the water up and coated the rocks whith a fine dust,,,my hawk died lost some pepperments,lost a perc,,,but over all it is done ,dust also stuck to tank walls ,,my astrea snails are slowly cleanning it off,,i kinda like the fact my tuffa now has dust on it ,,now maybee somthing will grow on it,,,some of my mushrooms turned from blue to red,,dumped in some cycle,,my sailfin is like rocky he flexes his fin sayin got any more huh! i was sad to loose my little hawk,,he was getting evean a brighter red every day,,i thaught he was the strongest in the tank ,who cares about the hiding shrimp,maybee the next ones wont hide,polyps did ok,,,so now to stabalize parameters and build

 

[teddibear703]

Use the trashbag method. Put sand in new tank, then put trashbags ontop of sand, then add water. AS the water level rises the bag rises with it, leaving most of the sand undisturbed. Best method and leaves clouding to no more then a day or two.

 

[esmithiii]

Desktop silver:

Why did you add some cycle?

E